First Look?

We plan on doing a first look to A) help with logistics so we can be part of the cocktail hour and B) because we actually want that first look moment to be a little more intimate, and I'd love to have the photographers capture the moment up close and have a chance to react with just with my FH and myself.

My husband and I did it and I'm so glad we did. Not only did it take the nerves away, but is gave us some time to have to ourselves before the ceremony and reception started and we were pulled in different directions by friends and family all night. Not only that, but we were also able to get a bulk of our bridal party photos done before the ceremony.

We didn't when we got married, and when we got married it was still kind of an offbeat thing to do.

Nowadays, pretty much everyone does. I've been a wedding videographer for five years, and could probably count on one hand how many people didn't do a first look.

I will say that for photos and video, first looks can be great. Gives the photographer and videographer time with just the couple, and they often result in some really beautiful shots.

That said, I think it really depends on the couple. Some couples really aren't very outwardly expressive, so their first looks don't make for great pictures.

If you have a photographer involved, it isn't really a "private" moment, and there is definitely pressure for it to go a certain way, for your groom to act a certain way (people now expect grooms to be sobbing messes when seeing their brides for the first time, thanks to popular web articles showing these kinds of reactions) and so on.